Echo Article on Reed

[stthrobber]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/8374982.Reed_to_be_kingmaker/

 

Quite illuminating.

 

I'm surprised no-one has commented on this unless it's hidden in a 50 page thread somewhere.

 

I can't see someone like O'Neill standing for this kind of nonsense.

 

Does anyone know of a continental club that has this kind of system? It sounds like a recipe for failure to me

[Pancake]

Yeah, it's on one of the 50 pagers mate.

[Leyton Lundekvam]

Yes I agree. Looks like a recipe for disaster, and dare I say it somewhat Lowesque.

 

Is it just me or is les Reed's CV not actually very impressive at all. Pardew's is actually better in my opinion.

[ottery st mary]

Sorry to say..The club I love is becoming a joke....No wonder a very good manager like Pards is off..

 

Our Director of football.development wants to run the first team...

 

The position should be there to support the first team manager/coach and not to run the show...

 

In this position what is the point of appointing a new manager.....A puppet would be more appropriate..

 

Other clubs with a very good template... mentioned many times on this forum only remain top of the shop with a good manage/coach in total charge but with the right support/imput from CEO and Director..

 

Pards was right for us and yes I accept we move on but ..this does not look good to me..

[ladysaint]

Anyone know who makes up the Executive Committee at the club, I have asked this before but nobody seems to know.

[Bwanamakubwa]

Pards was traditional. Im surpised he was employed in the first place. However I would say with the squad he (or the committee? or Reed?) had assembled was performing averagely - that being with the side we have we should beat most teams and we did.

[RedAndWhite91]

There is no way a head of football development and support centre, i.e part of the youth system, should ever be level with the manager of the football club.

[hypochondriac]

If I find out that we ever had a shot at getting MON here but it was lost because of this, my opinion of Cortese will be even lower than it is currently.

[Bwanamakubwa]

Anyone know who makes up the Executive Committee at the club, I have asked this before but nobody seems to know.

 

If its based on the European system, usually a "DOF" (or development officer), a couple of Scouts, the CEO and the first team manager. I know of two clubs in europe where this is definitely the case.

[hypochondriac]

Anyone know who makes up the Executive Committee at the club, I have asked this before but nobody seems to know.

 

It was Pardew, Reed, David Burke and Cortese.

[Pancake]

There is no way a head of football development and support centre, i.e part of the youth system, should ever be level with the manager of the football club.

 

Real Madrid?

[TheMidfieldGeneral]

LR is a destabilizing disaster for this club... How anyone with any self respect would want to come to Saints and work under a man who gas Corteses' ear is beyond me.

Certainly not someone the calibre of O'Neil.

Only a desperate puppet like Phil Brown .....

[Greenridge]

Maybe Reed is a candidate himself.....

[TheMidfieldGeneral]

* has :-)

[Mr X]

recipe for disaster!

[dan17]

If what the article is saying is true, the club is becoming an absolute farce IMO

[ottery st mary]

As someone stated....It is what Rupes wanted to do with Rugby Clive..

 

My point is that Characters like Woodward and Reed will not assist/imput but slowly run the show.

 

Great managers/coaches may have worked within these type of systems at much higher levels....

 

Even these young and developing managers/coachs will get tired of being continually undermined/over ruled..

 

By all means the set up is fine but please do not let Reed anywhere near the first team or the CEO or I will be crying for Rupes and his Dutch boyzz to return ....At least they gave me a laugh..

[Fan The Flames]

Yes I agree. Looks like a recipe for disaster, and dare I say it somewhat Lowesque.

 

Is it just me or is les Reed's CV not actually very impressive at all. Pardew's is actually better in my opinion.

 

Its completely Lowesque trying to reinvent the English football club, whether the reluctance to change is right or wrong it is apparent that the process of change is very distruptive and nearly impossible.

[Doctoroncall]

Yes I agree. Looks like a recipe for disaster, and dare I say it somewhat Lowesque.

 

Is it just me or is les Reed's CV not actually very impressive at all. Pardew's is actually better in my opinion.

 

I suppose it depends on what the job you are comparing them to do. As coach from a developmental side, Reed seems well respected, I don't know whether he is any good but expect Cortese to wield the axe in the same way he has with Pardew if the development squad doesn't deliver. When Saints are advancing through the leagues and the bar is raised we'll see if Reed can keep up and at that stage better coaches would consider Saints more of an attractive proposition.

[corsacar saint]

What choice does the new man have,than to tow the club line.Reeds record at Charlton,does not fill me with much hope,that he knows what he is doing. Any manager who comes in,is surely in time going to find it very difficult to buy long term into this structure.

The academy side of the club looks sound again,but the actual input a manager/coach will have in future would on the face of it be minimal,and therefore worrying. I sincerely hope that,I am proved wrong,but a yes man seems very much on the cards.

[Robsk II]

if it works, great. Can I see it working at the moment? Not really.

[RedAndWhite91]

Real Madrid?

 

It's just my opinion. Manager should be top dog. I'm a traditionalist, me.

[aintforever]

I hope that's just the Echo making stuff up.

[Cabrone]

Don't agree with this power structure and if this is how NC is going to set things up then it will lead to instability.

 

Why should Reed have the same authority as the manager when it's the manager's neck on the chopping block if it goes badly?

 

If the manager is the one that pays the price for failure then the manager must be given total authority to manage - Reed gets to interfere and meddle but doesn't get the sack if things turn out bad? This would indicate to me that the manager has LESS status than Reed and that is daft, don't blame AP for leaving if he wasn't happy with this!

 

An independent minded good manager is pivotal for success but I struggle to see any decent manager accepting this structure.

 

We'd end up with yes men all the time.

[Rory]

It sounds like he is trying to inch is way closer to the job. However, if the new guy (or gal?) is a failure, it should be on his head.

 

Nothing is ever simple with this club.

[VectisSaint]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/8374982.Reed_to_be_kingmaker/

 

Quite illuminating.

 

I'm surprised no-one has commented on this unless it's hidden in a 50 page thread somewhere.

 

I can't see someone like O'Neill standing for this kind of nonsense.

 

Does anyone know of a continental club that has this kind of system? It sounds like a recipe for failure to me

Standard set up on the continent. Only in this country do we have arrogant managers who can't work like this and want to do everything. Even here there are models, Chelski for instance don't seem to do too badly. Exeter work like this as well if you want a League One example (Tisdale and Perryman). This is the same system that Lowe tried to introduce, trouble was he tried it with Saggy Chops and a Rugby Coach, now that was just plain stupid (though the Rugby coach should have been good for the club, just not with Saggy Chops). While Reed may be part of the reason why AP has gone (because Reed joined much later, and also because of their history with Charlton), I don't see an issue if Reed is part of the selection process and the new manager (or 1st team coach) is appointed with this system in place. If the manager is continental he may indeed welcome such a structure and expect it to be as such. Sadly I would agree that O'Neill is hardly likely to be enamoured with it. Dismissing Reed as useless simply because his management career lasted exactly 6 weeks is just plain daft. He is not a manager, never has been, never will be, but he is one of the most highly respected coaches, especially on the development side in this country, and internationally renowned. As ong as Reed and the new manager get along, work together and understand the roles, all wii be fine.

[Robsk II]

He has a poor website, though. Ergo he is a bad person.

[doddisalegend]

APs sacking makes more sense in the light of this (the wrong choice IMO). No need to make up stories about his sex life he just wasn't going to put up with that kind of set up. Why wasn't he replaced during the summer though then this could have been sorted with minimal fuss? I don't think the clubs new manager is going to be a wow signing now. I wouldn't be suprised to see a european with the title of coach instead of a new manager now.

[Cabrone]

Standard set up on the continent. Only in this country do we have arrogant managers who can't work like this and want to do everything. Even here there are models, Chelski for instance don't seem to do too badly. Exeter work like this as well if you want a League One example (Tisdale and Perryman). This is the same system that Lowe tried to introduce, trouble was he tried it with Saggy Chops and a Rugby Coach, now that was just plain stupid (though the Rugby coach should have been good for the club, just not with Saggy Chops). While Reed may be part of the reason why AP has gone (because Reed joined much later, and also because of their history with Charlton), I don't see an issue if Reed is part of the selection process and the new manager (or 1st team coach) is appointed with this system in place. If the manager is continental he may indeed welcome such a structure and expect it to be as such. Sadly I would agree that O'Neill is hardly likely to be enamoured with it. Dismissing Reed as useless simply because his management career lasted exactly 6 weeks is just plain daft. He is not a manager, never has been, never will be, but he is one of the most highly respected coaches, especially on the development side in this country, and internationally renowned. As ong as Reed and the new manager get along, work together and understand the roles, all wii be fine.

 

If it's their job on the line then it's perfectly understandable that they'd want to control the football side of things.

 

How would you like to work in a structure where your work colleague could meddle with your job and get you the sack whilst he remained in place?

 

No manager worth his salt would agree to this.

[saintjay77]

Yes I agree. Looks like a recipe for disaster, and dare I say it somewhat Lowesque.

 

Is it just me or is les Reed's CV not actually very impressive at all. Pardew's is actually better in my opinion.

 

In actual management of teams then Pards is better but being involved in as many levels then Pards is way off. This role for Les Reed seems to fit him much better than the 1st team manager role. The 1st team manager needs to be a strong manager that knows the game inside out but has the same vision as Les Reed IMO. The 2 can benifit each other if they are both pushing in the same direction. A Puppet for Reed would be as much of a disaster as it would to let Reed manage the team himself.

 

Who ever comes in needs to know exactly how things are going to run and must be 100% happy that this is something they can do and also have 100% belieff that this system will work.

 

Anything less and it will struggle.

 

The other problem with this system is that so many "British" people automatically think that as its not the "British" way it will automatically fail. The Press will badger and nag about titles and power struggles and ask questions that will make us lot question it even more.

 

Look at the questions Redcrap got asked when Woodward came in. He was asked several times if he knew about it and was happy about it and each time he said everything was fine. The press kept asking the same question until he said something that they could grab hold of and build a rift. From then on that was all they focused on.

 

Im not saying that had they been happy clappy about the whole idea it would have worked or anything and think the clive arry combo was not the best of ideas but the system can and does work in other countrys so there should really be no reason why it cant work here.

[ottery st mary]

Standard set up on the continent. Only in this country do we have arrogant managers who can't work like this and want to do everything. Even here there are models, Chelski for instance don't seem to do too badly. Exeter work like this as well if you want a League One example (Tisdale and Perryman). This is the same system that Lowe tried to introduce, trouble was he tried it with Saggy Chops and a Rugby Coach, now that was just plain stupid (though the Rugby coach should have been good for the club, just not with Saggy Chops). While Reed may be part of the reason why AP has gone (because Reed joined much later, and also because of their history with Charlton), I don't see an issue if Reed is part of the selection process and the new manager (or 1st team coach) is appointed with this system in place. If the manager is continental he may indeed welcome such a structure and expect it to be as such. Sadly I would agree that O'Neill is hardly likely to be enamoured with it. Dismissing Reed as useless simply because his management career lasted exactly 6 weeks is just plain daft. He is not a manager, never has been, never will be, but he is one of the most highly respected coaches, especially on the development side in this country, and internationally renowned. As ong as Reed and the new manager get along, work together and understand the roles, all wii be fine.

 

For example....Exeter..

 

Tisdale is the Manager and head coach....He goes to Perryman/committee for possible purchase of prospective players..

 

Perryman is the buffer between Tisdale and effectively the board..

 

Perryman gives advice/lends support to Tisdale and sometimes suggests players etc..As others do..Tisdale makes his own mind up even though he does not always get the player he wants for various reasons..

 

Perryman does not coach/select the first team/select incoming players/decide tactics..

 

Tisdale is Exeter City Football team Manager/coach..There is not a selection group or interference with his running of the football team..

 

At Saints with Pards all the above applied ..until......And that is why I suggest Mr Reed and Cortese will be in and out of the changing room on match days with Gold lettering on their tracksuits carrying their team tactics/team selection asking the spongeman to sit in the corner and only speak when given permission..

 

Tisdale is the BOSS of the football team and has the final say without any interference from Perryman or Directors..

[Topcat]

I started a thread stating that the role of Reed given by Cortese was the problem and the main cause of Pardew going.

 

This article in the Echo illustrates why.

[yorkiesaint]

It all does sound a bit Lowe-esque, but then for a while the academy was working for us under Lowe. Seems to rule out some names, especially Curbishley, Keegan, and O'Neil. And who on here has put so much money on O'Neil so that he is now favourite on skybet?

[buctootim]

Anyone who thinks that the manager of the first team really wants to be directly responsible for making sure sports medicine runs properly, the training ground is well maintained and academy scholars are properly housed is deluded imo. Thats why you need separate heads of department.

[saintjay77]

Standard set up on the continent. Only in this country do we have arrogant managers who can't work like this and want to do everything. Even here there are models, Chelski for instance don't seem to do too badly. Exeter work like this as well if you want a League One example (Tisdale and Perryman). This is the same system that Lowe tried to introduce, trouble was he tried it with Saggy Chops and a Rugby Coach, now that was just plain stupid (though the Rugby coach should have been good for the club, just not with Saggy Chops). While Reed may be part of the reason why AP has gone (because Reed joined much later, and also because of their history with Charlton), I don't see an issue if Reed is part of the selection process and the new manager (or 1st team coach) is appointed with this system in place. If the manager is continental he may indeed welcome such a structure and expect it to be as such. Sadly I would agree that O'Neill is hardly likely to be enamoured with it. Dismissing Reed as useless simply because his management career lasted exactly 6 weeks is just plain daft. He is not a manager, never has been, never will be, but he is one of the most highly respected coaches, especially on the development side in this country, and internationally renowned. As ong as Reed and the new manager get along, work together and understand the roles, all wii be fine.

 

 

Exactly,

Both systems have merrits and there are many clubs on both sides that can be looked at to see each system working. Man U and Arsenal do it more the traditional way and let the manager have full control. Barcalona, Real Madrid and possibly Chelsea do it more the other way and all are thought of in the same way as Man U and Arsenal.

 

Forcing the likes of Wenger or Ferguson to work along side a DoF would be a disaster but get the right people in the right places and things will quickly turn around if there is the correct support from above. NC needs to get the right people in place and then needs to sit back and let them do there job. Interfearing from him could damage any system that we try and put into place.

 

I think Clive Woodward could have been excelent as a DoF in the right club as his skills are all about finding the right people to do the right jobs and tieing them all together. He doesnt have to know how to defend set pieces or take a penalty but he would have to find the right people that do know and put them in the right place.

 

Les Reed does know these answers and while he has not proved he is any good at implimenting them in a live game he does have a track record of producing and coaching players to do these things at all levels. So he could provide the foundations for a 1st class manager to finish off resulting in a decent future.

 

It could also all turn to crap but there is not much we can do about it so IMO we need to buy into what the club is trying to do and help in any way we can.

[Scummer]

Where does it say that Reed was interfering in the managers role? Seems a lot of people are reading this article with their own preconceived ideas.

[VectisSaint]

For example....Exeter..

 

Tisdale is the Manager and head coach....He goes to Perryman/committee for possible purchase of prospective players..

 

Perryman is the buffer between Tisdale and effectively the board..

 

Perryman gives advice/lends support to Tisdale and sometimes suggests players etc..As others do..Tisdale makes his own mind up even though he does not always get the player he wants for various reasons..

 

Perryman does not coach/select the first team/select incoming players/decide tactics..

 

Tisdale is Exeter City Football team Manager/coach..There is not a selection group or interference with his running of the football team..

 

At Saints with Pards all the above applied ..until......And that is why I suggest Mr Reed and Cortese will be in and out of the changing room on match days with Gold lettering on their tracksuits carrying their team tactics/team selection asking the spongeman to sit in the corner and only speak when given permission..

 

Tisdale is the BOSS of the football team and has the final say without any interference from Perryman or Directors..

Ottery, while I know that you are closer to Exeter than me, I think you will find that contrary to your remarks Perryman is very much involved in the selection of players and is also very much on an equal footing with Tisdale, indeed Tisdal has said before that Perryman is his mentor. I work with several Exeter supporters and know how much of an influence Perryman actually is at the club. It is one reason why I have never jumped on the Tisdale for Saints manager bandwagon. There is no inference anywhere by the way that Reed is planning to coach the first team, unless on an occassional basis (and why wouldn't we take advantage of his skills, he is after all one of the most respected coaches in this country). If you seriously think Reed will be heavily involved on match days, then why is it not happening right now, when we don't have a manager? As far as I can see the team is being run on matchdays by Wilkins and Hunter. I think you are simply mischief-making.

[VectisSaint]

Exactly,

Both systems have merrits and there are many clubs on both sides that can be looked at to see each system working. Man U and Arsenal do it more the traditional way and let the manager have full control. Barcalona, Real Madrid and possibly Chelsea do it more the other way and all are thought of in the same way as Man U and Arsenal.

 

Forcing the likes of Wenger or Ferguson to work along side a DoF would be a disaster but get the right people in the right places and things will quickly turn around if there is the correct support from above. NC needs to get the right people in place and then needs to sit back and let them do there job. Interfearing from him could damage any system that we try and put into place.

 

I think Clive Woodward could have been excelent as a DoF in the right club as his skills are all about finding the right people to do the right jobs and tieing them all together. He doesnt have to know how to defend set pieces or take a penalty but he would have to find the right people that do know and put them in the right place.

 

Les Reed does know these answers and while he has not proved he is any good at implimenting them in a live game he does have a track record of producing and coaching players to do these things at all levels. So he could provide the foundations for a 1st class manager to finish off resulting in a decent future.

 

It could also all turn to crap but there is not much we can do about it so IMO we need to buy into what the club is trying to do and help in any way we can.

Top post, nice to see some balanced, reasoned thinking on here.

[saintjay77]

For example....Exeter..

 

Tisdale is the Manager and head coach....He goes to Perryman/committee for possible purchase of prospective players..

 

Perryman is the buffer between Tisdale and effectively the board..

 

Perryman gives advice/lends support to Tisdale and sometimes suggests players etc..As others do..Tisdale makes his own mind up even though he does not always get the player he wants for various reasons..

 

Perryman does not coach/select the first team/select incoming players/decide tactics..

 

Tisdale is Exeter City Football team Manager/coach..There is not a selection group or interference with his running of the football team..

 

At Saints with Pards all the above applied ..until......And that is why I suggest Mr Reed and Cortese will be in and out of the changing room on match days with Gold lettering on their tracksuits carrying their team tactics/team selection asking the spongeman to sit in the corner and only speak when given permission..

 

Tisdale is the BOSS of the football team and has the final say without any interference from Perryman or Directors..

 

 

Ive not seen anywhere any info suggesting that Reed or NC have been doing any of that TBH. And if they were and had any input then should they get some credit for helping stuff Bristol 4-0 away?

 

There is a rumour about how NC text Pards to find out why Guly only got 5 mins. No rumour as to any reply or any facts to say it actually happened.

 

I think interfearance from NC will always be a dangerour thing but if Reed and Manager work together to achieve the same goals then it can be a good thing. A 1st team manager will be brought into manage the team and they will be alloud to get on with it IMO. Reed will work on providing the best players and kids for the 1st team manager to utalise. If Reed produces dross that the Manager cant use then it will be Reeds head on the block.

[ericofarabia]

Oh Well .... The Application Form for the vacancy might as well have Yes Men and Arse Lickers only need apply in HUGE letters at the top.. Football management at every level by committee.

 

Just imagine a substitution is needed. New Boss thinks player A should replace Player X, but Mr Reed thinks that Player B should should replace Player Y .... so they have to phone up CorteZ The Killer with his vast knowledge oof football to cast the deciding vote. He may even tink Player C should rplace Player Z and decide that his ruling is final and will be done ..... might explain the substitutions on saturday.

[buctootim]

Oh Well .... The Application Form for the vacancy might as well have Yes Men and Arse Lickers only need apply in HUGE letters at the top.. Football management at every level by committee.

 

Just imagine a substitution is needed. New Boss thinks player A should replace Player X, but Mr Reed thinks that Player B should should replace Player Y .... so they have to phone up CorteZ The Killer with his vast knowledge oof football to cast the deciding vote. He may even tink Player C should rplace Player Z and decide that his ruling is final and will be done ..... might explain the substitutions on saturday.

 

Thats it. Make it up and then moan about it. Daily Mail have made a business out of that.

[Doctoroncall]

For example....Exeter..

 

Tisdale is the Manager and head coach....He goes to Perryman/committee for possible purchase of prospective players..

 

Perryman is the buffer between Tisdale and effectively the board..

 

Perryman gives advice/lends support to Tisdale and sometimes suggests players etc..As others do..Tisdale makes his own mind up even though he does not always get the player he wants for various reasons..

 

Perryman does not coach/select the first team/select incoming players/decide tactics..

 

Tisdale is Exeter City Football team Manager/coach..There is not a selection group or interference with his running of the football team..

 

At Saints with Pards all the above applied ..until......And that is why I suggest Mr Reed and Cortese will be in and out of the changing room on match days with Gold lettering on their tracksuits carrying their team tactics/team selection asking the spongeman to sit in the corner and only speak when given permission..

 

Tisdale is the BOSS of the football team and has the final say without any interference from Perryman or Directors..

 

One of the biggest issues is the integration and step up of academy and development players into the first team, if Les Reed can help reduce the player wastage, then Saints are in a better position. If he interferes with first team with selections, tactics and training then that's a different issue but is there any evidence that has happened?

[Saint_clark]

I think people are ASSUMING that Reed is interfering in first team matters. I don't believe for a second that he is.

This set up CAN work - different departments run by different people.

[FloridaMarlin]

It's easy to say this set-up works well on the continent at Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and other top clubs.

 

But can anyone tell me the name of the Les Reed equivalent at the above clubs without looking them up?

 

Thought not.

 

Barca is Pep Guardiola's team, Real is Jose Mourinho's, Inter Rafa Benitez.

 

Besides, Reed has a reputation as one of the most-hated men in football (Mods - this isn't libel, as it is an honestly held and expressed opinion). Even the nicest man in the game, Roy Hodgson got shot of him pretty quickly. When the Transfer Approval Committe was formed of Cortese, Reed, David Burke and Pardew, poor old Pards had no chance.

If you were a cynical person, you might think Pardew's sacking was Reed's revenge for his departure from Charlton.

[ottery st mary]

Ottery, while I know that you are closer to Exeter than me, I think you will find that contrary to your remarks Perryman is very much involved in the selection of players and is also very much on an equal footing with Tisdale, indeed Tisdal has said before that Perryman is his mentor. I work with several Exeter supporters and know how much of an influence Perryman actually is at the club. It is one reason why I have never jumped on the Tisdale for Saints manager bandwagon. There is no inference anywhere by the way that Reed is planning to coach the first team, unless on an occassional basis (and why wouldn't we take advantage of his skills, he is after all one of the most respected coaches in this country). If you seriously think Reed will be heavily involved on match days, then why is it not happening right now, when we don't have a manager? As far as I can see the team is being run on matchdays by Wilkins and Hunter. I think you are simply mischief-making.

 

Not mischief-making at all.......honest..

 

Totallyagree..Perryman is a mentor to Tisdale.. up to a point and invaluable in many areas of Exeter City Football club....

 

The general interpretation of a Director of Footbal......Perryman is ideal in many areas and if Reed was to play a similar role then I would be pleased for our future...

 

Sorry but you are wrong and so are your Exeter City supporting colleagues.....Perryman does not select/coach the first team..solely down to Tisdale..

 

Yes...Perryman does mentor/support/encourage Tisdale and has admitted many times in various papers/circles that the first team is Tisdales domain.. He is definitely a great influence on the young Tisdale and particularly in the early days.

He does not encroach on Tisdales area or undermine him...He has no equal standing as Tisdale in first team area or attempted to water down Tisdales management of the football team..

 

I really don't understand your statement re mischief-making......The tracksuit/tactics was a joke.....

 

They will simply run Wilkins( as they are now) from their position in the stand or any other puppet here after..

 

Reed maybe a great coach.director trainer of football coach personnel/badge awards....He is not a first team coach or manager and should leave that to the first team manager/coach..

 

But then again if you get a VERY young coach/player manager then mentoring/support/encouraging would be alright in my eyes..ala Perryman/Tisdale...

 

We need a manager/coach to run the first team and not some past his sell by date wannabe manager running a puppet....

 

Reed should stick to his title job description and not be part of any group/committe undermining the running of the first team..

 

Go continental by all means but let the first team manager get on with it...

[ribbo]

Standard set up on the continent. Only in this country do we have arrogant managers who can't work like this and want to do everything. Even here there are models, Chelski for instance don't seem to do too badly. Exeter work like this as well if you want a League One example (Tisdale and Perryman). This is the same system that Lowe tried to introduce, trouble was he tried it with Saggy Chops and a Rugby Coach, now that was just plain stupid (though the Rugby coach should have been good for the club, just not with Saggy Chops). While Reed may be part of the reason why AP has gone (because Reed joined much later, and also because of their history with Charlton), I don't see an issue if Reed is part of the selection process and the new manager (or 1st team coach) is appointed with this system in place. If the manager is continental he may indeed welcome such a structure and expect it to be as such. Sadly I would agree that O'Neill is hardly likely to be enamoured with it. Dismissing Reed as useless simply because his management career lasted exactly 6 weeks is just plain daft. He is not a manager, never has been, never will be, but he is one of the most highly respected coaches, especially on the development side in this country, and internationally renowned. As ong as Reed and the new manager get along, work together and understand the roles, all wii be fine.

 

seriously, everyone should read the post above before reading 90% of the guff on this forum...

 

this is how it is at saints, it's not new in england but it's bloody hard to get the institutionalized opinions of fans and football men to understand that this is the model most of the european football industry has been trying to move to.

 

The reason this model is becoming popular with chairman is because of it creates continuation of an ethos and not just a "manager" who is at a club only up until the point he wants to goto a bigger club or gets bored and leave.... believe it or not as far as technical directors go, LR has a pretty ****ing good cv.

[saintjay77]

It's easy to say this set-up works well on the continent at Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and other top clubs.

 

But can anyone tell me the name of the Les Reed equivalent at the above clubs without looking them up?

 

Thought not.

 

Barca is Pep Guardiola's team, Real is Jose Mourinho's, Inter Rafa Benitez.

 

Besides, Reed has a reputation as one of the most-hated men in football (Mods - this isn't libel, as it is an honestly held and expressed opinion). Even the nicest man in the game, Roy Hodgson got shot of him pretty quickly. When the Transfer Approval Committe was formed of Cortese, Reed, David Burke and Pardew, poor old Pards had no chance.

If you were a cynical person, you might think Pardew's sacking was Reed's revenge for his departure from Charlton.

 

ONly last week or so Benitez went on record to say that he is just the 1st team coach so what ever the above do when trying to recruit players from Liverpool has nothing to do with him.

 

Ask a Real Madrid supporter who is in charge above Jose or a Barca fan about who is above Pep and they will know the answer.

 

Ask a Barca fan who is our star striker and they will struggle to give you an answer let alone who the manager or DoF is.

[ottery st mary]

One of the biggest issues is the integration and step up of academy and development players into the first team, if Les Reed can help reduce the player wastage, then Saints are in a better position. If he interferes with first team with selections, tactics and training then that's a different issue but is there any evidence that has happened?

 

Pards probably will not write a book until he recovers from his wound between his shoulder blades is my guess but then again the compensation will probably take care of that...

 

Evidence started with a committe being formed to select the side......tactics,and trainingfollow on from that when the committee selects the side...

[docker-p]

The management structure itself is not the issue. FWIW I think this continental structure makes a lot of sense. What is the issue is which managers can work with it. This structure appears to have cost us a manager most people thought was likely to get us promoted this year.

I can't see MoN or KK working with this structure. Maybe MoN was approached but decided he wasn't interested because of this structure. We'll never know.

[Topcat]

Besides, Reed has a reputation as one of the most-hated men in football (Mods - this isn't libel, as it is an honestly held and expressed opinion). Even the nicest man in the game, Roy Hodgson got shot of him pretty quickly.

 

I had not noticed Reed's time at Fulham. Interesting that the wise old bird Hodgson thought Reed was superfluous.